College Hoops Rewind: 2/9/2013
It has been quite some time since I’ve posted here on PUN Sports and I do apologize. I have come out of hibernation just in time for the best two months of the college hoops season. I will try and establish a weekly rewind each Saturday until Selection Sunday, and hopefully beyond. I watch a lot of Big Ten basketball so excuse me for talking about the best conference in college hoops (that is just the flat out truth).
But, I will start in the Big 12 Conference. What is going on in this league? Ever since the Pokes knocked off KU in Lawrence a weekend ago the Big 12 has all of a sudden gotten much more interesting. KU has now lost three straight after losing a close one to Lon Krueger’s game Oklahoma squad on Saturday. That is now three straight losses for a team we thought could be a lock for a one-seed just a week ago. Now, K-State is on top after their impressive home victory over Iowa State in the Little Apple. The Big 12 standings are now really close together. If Kansas topples their in-state rivals in Lawrence Monday night there will be six teams either tied or within one game of first. And I thought the Big Ten race was interesting.
That’s a good segue. Wisconsin’s miraculous victory over the Wolverines today was about as crazy a finish as I can remember in the regular season (except for maybe Butler’s heroics against the ‘Zags). With that win now the Big Ten has five teams either in first place or within a game. On that note, I thought Michigan State would have a tough time at Purdue, a team who has played much better in conference play. Instead the Spartans marched to their beat all evening long and sent the Boilers skidding off the tracks. Illinois will have a tough game at the barn on Sunday and Ohio State and Indiana will likely play a doozy in Columbus as well. Who says you need the NFL on Sundays?
So, I went over the two most competitive conferences in the nation to this point and I wanted to touch base on a few other things I saw today while keeping my eyes glued to the TV.
-Miami is a very good team, and a relief in some ways. They play together and are actually exciting.
-The Mountain West will only get four teams in the tournament. Remember Wyoming? Well the Cowboys have struggled mightily after the bar fight in Laramie suspended one of their top players. Also, Boise State is struggling in conference. Both teams look destined for the NIT, while the Aztecs, Lobos, Rams, and Runnin Rebs look like locks for the dance.
-Lastly, scoring is way down in college hoops. I watched a game between Washington and Arizona State last weekend, which ended in regulation with both teams in the 90’s. That was an amazing game. Both teams ran, made shots, and played good team basketball. I blame the coaching for this reason. So many coaches preach half-court offense and rugged defense and most teams don’t play transition basketball like they used to. As a college hoops fan, I can only take so many games that end in the low 50’s and 60’s night in and night out. Give me some scoring.
I will be back next weekend to give my two cents again. Remember folks, March is right around the corner.
It has been quite some time since I’ve posted here on PUN Sports and I do apologize. I have come out of hibernation just in time for the best two months of the college hoops season. I will try and establish a weekly rewind each Saturday until Selection Sunday, and hopefully beyond. I watch a lot of Big Ten basketball so excuse me for talking about the best conference in college hoops (that is just the flat out truth).
But, I will start in the Big 12 Conference. What is going on in this league? Ever since the Pokes knocked off KU in Lawrence a weekend ago the Big 12 has all of a sudden gotten much more interesting. KU has now lost three straight after losing a close one to Lon Krueger’s game Oklahoma squad on Saturday. That is now three straight losses for a team we thought could be a lock for a one-seed just a week ago. Now, K-State is on top after their impressive home victory over Iowa State in the Little Apple. The Big 12 standings are now really close together. If Kansas topples their in-state rivals in Lawrence Monday night there will be six teams either tied or within one game of first. And I thought the Big Ten race was interesting.
That’s a good segue. Wisconsin’s miraculous victory over the Wolverines today was about as crazy a finish as I can remember in the regular season (except for maybe Butler’s heroics against the ‘Zags). With that win now the Big Ten has five teams either in first place or within a game. On that note, I thought Michigan State would have a tough time at Purdue, a team who has played much better in conference play. Instead the Spartans marched to their beat all evening long and sent the Boilers skidding off the tracks. Illinois will have a tough game at the barn on Sunday and Ohio State and Indiana will likely play a doozy in Columbus as well. Who says you need the NFL on Sundays?
So, I went over the two most competitive conferences in the nation to this point and I wanted to touch base on a few other things I saw today while keeping my eyes glued to the TV.
-Miami is a very good team, and a relief in some ways. They play together and are actually exciting.
-The Mountain West will only get four teams in the tournament. Remember Wyoming? Well the Cowboys have struggled mightily after the bar fight in Laramie suspended one of their top players. Also, Boise State is struggling in conference. Both teams look destined for the NIT, while the Aztecs, Lobos, Rams, and Runnin Rebs look like locks for the dance.
-Lastly, scoring is way down in college hoops. I watched a game between Washington and Arizona State last weekend, which ended in regulation with both teams in the 90’s. That was an amazing game. Both teams ran, made shots, and played good team basketball. I blame the coaching for this reason. So many coaches preach half-court offense and rugged defense and most teams don’t play transition basketball like they used to. As a college hoops fan, I can only take so many games that end in the low 50’s and 60’s night in and night out. Give me some scoring.
I will be back next weekend to give my two cents again. Remember folks, March is right around the corner.